Halcyon Class Minesweepers

HMS Bramble 1940

 
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HMS Bramble - Halcyon Class Minesweeper

HMS BRAMBLE: Photo Source: ADM 176/873

Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

13.11.39 Clyde 6.3.40  

8.3.40

Scapa

10.3.40

 

11.3.40

Rosyth

11.3.40

  

11.3.40

Leith

19.4.40

Taken in hand 12/3 for refit

20/3 BRAMBLE docked Edinburgh Dry Dock

BRAMBLE undocked from Edinburgh Dry Dock Leith 4/4

Completes 12/4 approx ex trials

Date of completion of BRAMBLE ex trials, ammunitioning etc is Wednesday 17/4

19.4.40

Rosyth

26.4.40

 

27.4.40

Scapa

?

BRAMBLE then spent the rest of 1940 around Scapa, mainly sweeping the areas used by the big ships of the fleet entering and leaving harbour.

3.5.40

Scapa

11.5.40

 

?

Scapa

22.5.40

 

22.5.40

Aberdeen

?

 

28.5.40

Scapa

?

 

3.6.40

Invergordon

?

 

 

Source: ADM 199/184 LL sweep in Fleet Minesweepers

 

From: DTM Admiralty
Date: 12th July 1940
To: DEE

The subjoined extracts from a report on recent sweeping operations carried out by HM Ships HMS BRAMBLE and Speedy are referred for information and comment. 

It is of interest to note that this is the first clearance operation by the LL sweep of a defined area known to contain magnetic mines. The sweep was for RED mines only and three were exploded. 

It is considered that the gear was subjected to a fair test since out of a total of 77 ¼ hours under way, 54 ¼ were spent actually sweeping. 

Ships were stationed 220 yards apart in under 10 fathoms and 250 yards apart in 10 fathoms and over. The average speed of sweeping over the ground was 6 ¾ knots. 

1st mine exploded almost underneath starboard sweep 70 yards astern of short tail.

2nd mine midway between sweeps, 70 yards astern of short tail.

3rd mine nearer port sweep 30 yards astern of short tail.  

No damage was done to the Callender Cable in either ship by the 3 detonations, even though one mine detonated almost directly beneath BRAMBLE’s tail.

 

From:          The Senior Officer, 1st Minesweeping Flotilla, HMS BRAMBLE
Date:                17th June 1940
To:                   The Commander in Chief, Home Fleet.

Sweepers:         BRAMBLE, Speedy
Danlayers:       Yacht Seaflower, Drifters Guiding Light and Olive Tree. 

Wind:               Light, variable, usually freshening force 2 from the ENE in the evenings.
Visibility:          Considerable fog which stopped sweeping whenever visibility dropped below one mile. 

Mines:              All ground magnetic.

1st Mine:           129° Tarbat Ness Lt House 4.45 miles, almost underneath starboard sweep, 70 yards astern of short tail.

2nd Mine:          136½° Tarbat Ness Lt House 3.45 miles midway between sweeps, 70 yards astern of short tail.

3rd Mine:           141½° Tarbat ness Lt House 3.5 miles nearer port sweep, 30 yards astern of short tail. 

No damage was done to the Callender Cable in either ship by the 3 detonations, even though one mine detonated almost directly beneath BRAMBLE’s tail.

Although the two drifters acting as danlayers had never before carried out this duty, they worked extremely well and efficiently. They had only two cork dan buoys when they arrived, but six complete dans were lent from the sweepers. It is urgently requested that these two drifters may be allocated to the 1st MSF for danlaying duties. They are eminently more suitable than the yachts Hinba and Bunting who have recently been taken away for there duties. If danlayers are not provided permanently and thus gain experience, it cannot be expected that clearances can be accurate under conditions when navigational fixes are not continuously available. The yacht Seaflower proved herself a most efficient and suitable danlayer.  

Diary of Events during Magnetic Clearance of QZX44 

 

Harbour

LL

 

 

 

Date

Left

Returned

Out

In

Hours swept

Laps swept

Remarks

Tues 4th June

1135

1920

1250

1730

4.7

4

Meeting of CO’s of sweepers and danlayers prior to sailing

Weds 5th June

0730

1835

0830

1655

8.5

6

 

Thurs 6th June

0730

-

0840

1200

3.3

3

Owing to fog, ships had to anchor from 1200/6 to 1100/7

Fri 7th June

1100

1645

1116

1454

3.5

3

Fog

Sat 8th June

0940

2140

1050

2000

9.0

6

Drifters coaled 0630 to 0815

Sun 9th June

1000

-

1110

1725

6.2

3

Fog, anchored at 1020

Mon 10th June

0720

1830

0805

1645

7.0

6

Fog, anchored between 1100 and 1240

Tues 11th June

0700

2130

0830

2030

12.0

 

 

Total hours sweepers under way          77 ¼

Total hours sweepers sweeping            54 ¼

Total hours danlayers under way           90 ¼

Average speed of sweeping                    6 ¾ knots

 

Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

13.6.40

Scapa

26.6.40

 

?

Aberdeen

2.7.40

 

 

Source: ADM 199/184 Clearance of QZX 44 BRAMBLE

 

From: Senior Officer, 1st Minesweeping Flotilla, HMS BRAMBLE

Date:  24th July 1940

To:     Commander in Chief Home Fleet

 

The water immediately to the NE of the limit of the clearance as shown in the tracing had been thoroughly searched for a further three cables when leaving the area at the end of each lap, and approaching it for the next. This was not included in the tracing of water cleared because overlaps were not guaranteed.

 

Six mines had been accounted for, viz:

          3 by 1st Minesweeping Flotilla

          1 which caused area to be declared

          1 which sank the Durham Castle

          1 detonated by magnetic sweep further south

These were thought to constitute the complete lay of a small U-boat.

 

M H Evelegh

Captain

 

Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

2.7.40

Scapa

6.8.40

 

12.8.40

Scapa

13.9.40

 

14.9.40

Rosyth

6.11.40

20 - 25/9 Repairs

?

Leith

20.11.40

Repairs. Provisional completion date 20/11

21.11.40

Scapa

26.11.40

 

27.11.40

Rosyth

4.12.40

 

5.12.40

Scapa

11.1.41

 

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This site was last updated 17 Januar 2012